Background: The psychological impact of acne is comparable to that experienced by patients with severe diseases; however, most of the people does not consider acne as a true disease. We evaluated beliefs, sources of information and knowledge about acne in Italian adolescents and their mothers.
Methods: This survey was carried out in 2327 acne patients and their mothers (4654 subjects) by means of a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was based on ten questions: seven questions for the patients and three questions for their mothers.
Results: All the 2327 patients and their mothers completed the survey. Approximately 75% of patients declared that acne has a negative influence on their self-esteem and relationships; furthermore, 87% of patients stated that acne limits their social life. Finally, 65% of patients declared that they are under treatment, but only in 20% of cases the treatment was prescribed by a dermatologist. The mothers considered pollution, wrong diet and hyperseborrhea as the most important etiological factors. They considered the treatment suggested by a cosmetologist and contraceptive pill as the best one; only 8% of mothers reported that they regularly took their children to the dermatologist.
Conclusions: In order to improve the treatment and the quality of life in acne patients, there is a need to improve awareness about this disease and its causes and to highlight the role and importance of dermatologists.